Cleo did not consider herself religious. She remembered going to mass a few times a year as a family. Her mother thought it was important that they spent holidays in "God's House". She remembered hating it: sitting in uncomfortable pews, listening for what seemed like forever to a boring priest. The church at least was beautiful, and she could zone out staring at the stained glass windows depicting scenes from the bible.

The whole thing felt forced and fake, and that was confirmed for her when her mom, who pressed for religion, was caught cheating on her dad. They worked it out for a while, but her mom had lost a lot her trust. Cleo was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that magic and mermaids were real when her mom left the family because of another affair. And that was the final straw. It just made sense to her that religion didn't. They'd preach love, but her mom had none of it. Not really. And forgiveness? How do you forgive someone who abandons you? It might have taken a while, but Cleo had determined that religion was not for her.

So, when she is told that she is essentially duty bound to spend her life in service to and in worship of the moon goddess, you can bet she is not happy.

"You're telling us we're supposed to worship the moon?"

Arethusa nodded, though a little put back by Cleo's tone.

"Why? Why would we worship the thing that has turned us into freaks, the one that has turned our lives upside down!?

Arethusa responded patiently, "You may not feel great care for her, but she does for you..."

"But that's what makes it worse!" Cleo, now on the border of shouting. "I do care, I think about the moon all the time now. But those aren't my thoughts and feelings, are they? It's just another part of me that has changed, another part that I'm not in control of!"

"Cleo," Emma came over to put her arm around her and rub her back. It was comforting, but it didn't change the anger and confused feeling of 'this isn't fair' from welling up inside of her.

"It is not as bad as you think…"

"Then what is it like?" asked Zane understanding and wanting to defend her anger.

Arethusa sighed before answering, "There are rituals that should be performed, during the full moon. It is usually the responsibility of the royals to perform them, though any mer may join in."

"Rituals you mean like, what? Blood sacrifice?" Ash asked half-joking in an attempt to ease some of the tension.

"No of course not!" Arethusa laughed at the ludicrous idea. "I've known royals to celebrate with grand parties, dances that last until morning, songs lifted toward the heavens in unity. It truly is a beautiful thing. It is meant to connect you with the moon yes, but also to fellow mer that join you in… Aagghh!"

Cleo looked up to see that the water spirit appeared to be doubled over in pain. She started sweating or she thought was sweating, until it started coming down from her forehead and dripping off her like rain.

She watched as Lewis jumped forward to help her stopping just short of her when he saw how much water there was.

"What's happening to you!?" Rikki cried out.

"I'm fine," Arethusa managed to get out, "but my time…my time is… up…" She made a move back toward the fountain she had come out of and jumped into it with a resounding splash. All was quiet for a moment until the fountain gurgled again and her face was once again seen in the cascading waterfall.

"I'm sorry about that," Her voice once again carrying a strange echo, "but I can only be apart from the fountain for so long. It will be a while before I will be able to take a solid form again."

"When?" asked Lewis.

"It will be a day at least. Until then return home, think about what I have told you. Agree or not with what I have said of the moon, but there is still much for you to learn about who you are as mer, and what you are capable of."

"So, tomorrow then?" asked Emma.

Arethusa nodded, then bid her farewell, "Go well Sons of Land, be blessed Ocean's Daughters I pray we meet again soon." And with that, she was gone, the fountain appearing to be just a regular waterfall. The lights in the room also began to dim and the group took that as a sign that they should leave.

"Well that was…" Rikki started before cutting herself off as the walked out the large door they had come through.

"Ash, mate, don't ever drag me along when you have another strange feeling!" Zane as they walked down the stairs toward the jungle. The air was quiet and still in that way that it gets just before the dawn.

Cleo saw Lewis look down at his watch apparently thinking the same thing. "Guys its almost four, we've been out all night."

"Oh no!" Cleo cried out. "My dad is going to kill me!"

"Maybe if you hurry back you can convince him you were there the whole time?" Rikki proposed, clearly not even believing herself.

Rather than walking back the way they came from the West, they realized they were closer to the northeastern side of the island. The six of them carefully made their way down the sea cliffs that marked that side of the island. No one said a word as they were all processing everything that they were told tonight. When they made it to the beach Ash, Emma, Zane, and Rikki all took off in the water quickly: all exhausted and desperate to salvage what sleep they could.

Lewis stayed back for a moment and looked at Cleo, his eyes asking the question his lips wouldn't form.

"I'm okay, I just…" She sighed collecting her thoughts. "I love being a mermaid, don't get me wrong. But, for as long as I've been one, there's been this hope that this would be temporary. It's faded as time has gone on, but it's been there…until now."

Lewis gave her a sad smile and then pulled her in for a hug.

She started to cry a little but brushed the tear away. "I don't even think I'm against all this 'moon worship'. Just on top of everything…"

"It was too much," he supplied.

She nodded another couple of tears managing to escape.

She took a moment to compose herself and then nodded her head in resolution. "I want to come back."

"Are you sure?"

"If this is going to be my life, then I better start accepting it."

With that she took Lewis' hand and headed toward the water. He swam her to the dock behind her house. She then managed to dry off, sneak into the house and up to her bedroom just as the sun began to rise.